Europa League 2015 Results: Scores for Quarter-Finals Leg 1 Fixtures

Rafa Benitez celebrated his 55th birthday in style as his Napoli team demolished Wolfsburg 4-1 in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg. Netting a quartet of goals away from home has as good as put Napoli into the last four.

Holders Sevilla face a tougher challenge reaching the same stage. The La Liga side survived to beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-1 at home, with brilliant striker Carlos Bacca typically its inspiration.

Yet the holders will be wary of the value of Zenit's away goal.

Here are the results from each of the first-leg quarter-final fixtures:

Date	Match	Score
Thursday, April 16	Wolfsburg vs. Napoli	1-4
Thursday, April 16	Sevilla vs. Zenit St. Petersburg	2-1
Thursday, April 16	Dynamo Kiev vs. Fiorentina	1-1
Thursday, April 16	Club Brugge vs. Dnipro	0-0

Benitez Still Magic in Europe

Whatever else you can say about Benitez's managerial record, particularly in league seasons, the Spanish tactician is still a master at negotiating European tournaments. His Napoli team was magnificent winning in Wolfsburg against a buoyant Bundesliga club considered one of the favourites.

Napoli were well-organised and cagey in defence. Benitez set his back four up to stifle the threat Wolfsburg offer from the flanks via Kevin De Bruyne and ex-Chelsea man Andre Schurrle.

Uruguayan centre-back Miguel Britos was a key part of the plan as WhoScored.com detailed:

Britos also led the charge in keeping usually dangerous Wolfsburg striker Bas Dost quiet. He was merely a passenger during the first half, as Squawka Football detailed:

But it was the way the Serie A outfit broke on the counter that was really impressive. Napoli attacked swiftly with smart and rapid exchanges of passes executed at pace.

The lightning-fast yet intricate breaks were reminiscent of when Bentiez's Valencia dominated this tournament with smart schemers David Albelda, Pablo Aimar and Ruben Baraja bossing the middle.

Napoli relied on pace out wide in the form of Belgian winger Dries Mertens, along with the guile of Marek Hamsik. But it really helped to have the irrepressible Gonzalo Higuain as a focal point.

The Argentinian produced a masterclass in how to play No. 9 in a tough European fixture. His movement was exceptional, always lurking on the last shoulder of Wolfsburg centre-backs.

But the ex-Real Madrid man also wisely chose his moments to drop off and exploit pockets of space between the midfield and forward lines. That ploy led to Hamsik's goal when Higuain brilliantly split the German defence to put the Slovakian playmaker into the clear.

Hamsik emphatically seized the opportunity to slot home Napoli's second. Higuain had already opened the scoring after appearing to use his arm to control a long ball dropped over his shoulder.

There may have been controversy about how he brought it down, but there were no doubts about the way Higuain decisively smashed the ball home. Squawka noted how the strike was just the latest part of a prolific tournament for the 27-year-old:

Higuain finding the net has proved a superb omen for Napoli since he joined the club, according to OptaFranz:

So it proved again as Jose Callejon and Hamsik took advantage of a goalkeeping gaffe to score a third. Hamsik found the net for a second time, effectively ending this tie.

His team added a fourth before former Arsenal misfit Nicklas Bendtner emerged from the wilderness to net for the hosts.

Napoli's performance was ominous for the rest of the tournament. Benitez has won this competition with both Chelsea and Valencia and knows how to manufacture results over two legs.

He has a squad talented and experienced enough to earn a third win.

Bacca Rescues Holders Sevilla

Sevilla boss Unai Emery must rue leaving Colombian hotshot Bacca on the bench during the first half. Without the quick workhorse's ability to run the channels, Sevilla were routinely funnelled through the middle.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

That's just what Zenit gaffer Andres Villas-Boas wanted. He congested the central areas and gave no room to veteran schemer Jose Antonio Reyes and forward Kevin Gameiro.

The plan appeared to be working wonders when the Russian side grabbed a first-half lead and priceless away goal. But Bacca's introduction turned the game around.

His devilish movement pulled Zenit's overly cautious defensive shape apart. The header that levelled the scores was actually the first efficient attacking action the holders produced on the night, per OptaJose:

That was a testament to how well Zenit had defended. They missed key attacking options, including free-scoring striker Hulk, so should still consider taking an away goal back to Russia a solid result.

That's even after on-loan attacking midfielder Denis Suarez scored a true cracker to give Sevilla a late lead. The 21-year-old stroked home a remarkable volley.

By contrast, Serie A side Fiorentina had to wait to leave Eastern Europe with an away goal. Manager Vincenzo Montella's team failed to click in forward areas, despite the presence of Mohamed Salah and Mario Gomez.

But Montella's men lacked imagination in the final third. That was until Senegalese striker Khouma Babacar struck in injury time to change the dynamic of this tie.

Fabrizio Giovannozzi/Associated Press

La Viola will be confident of beating Kiev on Italian soil, but Dyanmo's width and pace are sure to make them a major threat on the break, an invaluable asset for away teams.

Meanwhile, Club Brugge won't rue a goalless draw at home to Dnipro too much. That's now become a desirable result in European tournaments.

But it's Wolfsburg who have really been left low. Impressive in the Bundesliga and boasting a squad brimming with talent, the German team proved a major letdown.

As for Napoli, maybe we shouldn't be too surprised. After all, just like Sevilla, winning in this competition is what Benitez does best.